sorry if already posted
from super league website:
Salford City Reds coaches and physios are helping to raise awareness of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) by participating in the Bupa Great Yorkshire Run in September.
Every week 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions, so the 11-strong team from Salford City Reds RLFC, led by Head Physio Chris Holmes and Academy Physio, Katy McDonnell are running in aid of CRY, following the death of rugby league player Leon Walker earlier this year.
Leon, who had a three-year spell at Salford before moving to Wakefield Wildcats, collapsed and died during a reserve game for Wakefield Wildcats against Celtic Crusaders in March, at the age of just 20.
To help generate funds for CRY and inform people of its services, Chris and Katy have pulled together a group of runners who all knew Leon. The team includes: Scott Naylor (1st Team Assistant Coach), Alan Hunte( Academy Manager), Andy Haigh (Head Conditioner), Jade Tse and Lyndsay Watkins ( Academy Physiotherapists), Dave Gooch (Sports Rehab and Masseur), Mike Eccles (Academy Conditioner), Chris Bamber (Sports Scientist),and Steve McCormick (Academy Manager).
“We want to raise awareness of CRY and to run in remembrance of Leon. He was such a young lad and it was a devastating loss.” commented Reds’ Physio, Christine Holmes.
“We are now campaigning for every rugby league team to have all their players screened for this condition. Many people won’t know they have it until something happens.
“CRY is setting up clinics across the country to provide screening, particularly to young sports men to help identify any defects in the heart. The checks are available for everyone to have at just £25, which is not much for peace of mind.”
Alison Cox MBE, Founder & Chief Executive of CRY said
”These deaths of apparently fit and healthy young people are catastrophic tragedies that cause terrible suffering for family and friends. 80% of young sudden deaths have no symptoms and so the only way to detect an abnormality is through a screening programme.
“This is a wonderful initiative that will greatly help raise awareness and funds for our screening programme that has been in place since I founded the charity in 1995 and has expanded hugely in the last 5 years in response to demand.
“I wish the Salford City Reds coaches and physios every success in their terrific efforts to help us in memory of the shocking death of Leon.”
The team is hoping to raise more than £1500 from the Bupa Great Yorkshire Run and have set-up a website
www.justgiving.com/salfordredsrun for donations
